Sri Lanka Sinhalese Family Genealogy
Sri
Lanka Sinhalese Family
Genealogy
Seneviratne - Family
#3108
This
Seneviratne
family may have worked for the Kandy kings at one time, and
later migrated by
boat through Kalu ganga and settled in Kalutara around the
year 1676.They built
their walauwa, named Duwa watte Walauwa in Desestara in
Kalutara.
Interpretation
of
the Seneviratne name is Senevi = Loyal and ratne = Gem
Or can be
Senevi = connected to the armed forces in Kings time.
Don
Reynoldus Gunasekere Seneviratne Mudliyar had made a field of
45 Amunums.
Don
Phillip Gunasekere Seneviratne received certificates from
Dutch and British
Governors.
Don
Phillip was also presented land within the Kalutara Fort, by
Governor Van de
Graaf, for planting cinnamon for the Government. Around the
year 1796
There is
in existence a temple in Pillikuttuwa near Heneratgoda, where
in the temple
bell it's written. donated by Gunasekera Seneviratne
Mudiyanse.
Dutch may
have collected details by thombu in 1767.
Seneviratne
family
seems to have married with the de Alwis family in the years
1750 to 1870.
Phillip Gunasekere Seneviratne (1761-1803),married
Helena
de Alwis,bp 1/1/1766,married at Christ Church Galkissa on
17/5/1786.This
Helena de Alwis was a daughter of Daniel de Alwis,who is
believed to be born in
Galkissa.This Daniel de Alwis's father,Phillipo de Alwis is
believed to have
migrated from Bentota to Galkissa around1739.But it is
believed Phillip
Seneviratne after marriage stayed in Kalutara.Phillip's son,
Don John Cornelis
Seneviratne (1792-1876),married
another
Helena de Alwis,a daughter of another Daniel de Alwis of
Bentota, and is
believed to have lived in Kalutara. Son of John Cornelis
Seneviratne was Thomas
Leonard Gunasekere Seneviratne from Duwa watte Desastara
Kalutara, who married
around 1870, Jane Rejo de Alwis, daughter of Helena Eliza de
Alwis and Abraham
de Alwis of Galkissa Walauwwa.Thomas Leonard Seneviratne
settled in Galkissa
Walauwwa, and had 3 sons, Edwin Arthur and James.
Seneviratne
members
have married to de Saram, Bandaranaike, de Livera and
Wijewardene
families.
Seneviratne
family
is a Govigama buddhist family.
From the
book Memoirs of Late James D'Alwis
edited by AC Seneviratne in 1939
After 1604
those who had left the 7 korale's for Sabaragamuwa found it no
better
condition, they felt a desire
to
abandon and to
seek refuge in
some quite locality. Long before the Dutch
succeeded the Portuguese and long before the Dutch rendered
the inland waters
navigable, various points on the west coast between Bentota
and Negambo ,and
boats were placed, on the kelani ganga to maintain
communication by the river, confined
to the Kandyan Kingdom. The new settlers
of Sabaragamuwa found a easy passage en route by the
Kaluganga to those domains
in ancient principality Raiygama (Western
Province)
Though it was
undoubtly the close of their rule in Ceylon, it is
nevertheless not a little
surprising that the Portuguese now attempted to extend their
religion beyond
their own frontier, and to carry it into the inland districts
of the island.
Notwithstanding the formidable opposition which they met at
the hands of the
Dutch, who had already commenced to interpose obstacles on the
way to the
Portuguese. And not withstanding the treaty of 1638 between
King Rajasinghe 2
and the Dutch, by which the exertions of the Portuguese clergy
were greatly
limited, yet it is not little surprising that it was chiefly
at this period
they exerted their influence, not only to effect conversions
among the highest
families of the land, but to introduce at the same time, a
very questionable
nomendature to distinguish the converted.
It was at this
point that the new Kandian settlers in the confines of
Raiygama foresaw that
the most effectual mode by, which they
could secure rank and office was by embracing the faith, which
had been
offered, as a bait for such distinction.
000
Seneviratne b approx
1650, may have migrated from the
Kandyan Kingdom through Kalu ganga, around the year 1676 (When many came to low
country and joined the
Dutch Government, at a time when King Rajasinghe 2 was
harassing and killing
his opponents.) And this Seneviratne family may have built
their walauwwa in
Duwa watte, in Desastara Kalutara.
00 Seneviratne b approx 1670
0 Don
Carolus Wijesekera
Seneviratne,
b approx 1700, was alive on 23rd November,1753 (Paul Pieris Sinhala
families vol 3-page 10) (Perhaps
the 1st Thombu was done in 1753)
1 Don
Reynoldus Gunasekera Seneviratne
Mudaliyar b
approx 1730, alive on 6th
July 1767, Duwa
Watte Walauwa Desestra
Kalutara (d
approx 1782) (Maybe the 2hd thombu
was done around year 1767.) (p12
SF)
Don Reynoldus had made a field of
45 Amunams at Bediawela with a
canal and possessed it as Canois Paraveni. , Reynoldus of Duwa
Watte Walauwa Desestra
Kalutara married and had the following) (he had 9 children) 2
(1)to 2 (9)
2 (1) Don Louis Wickremaratne Gunasekera Seneviratne
Mudaliyar
Kalutara, (Rayigam Korale) b approx:1760 d Nov 1782 +Dona
Phillipa Lama Eteni,
d:1828, daughter of Samarakoon Mudaliyar and Leonara Phillipsz
Panditharatne (she
died in 1828) (There is in existence of a
temple in Pilikuttuwa near Heneratgoda,where temple bell is
carved,saying Louis
Gunasekera Seneviratne donated the bell, for katina pinkama.)
(3 children-Hendrick,
Palentina and Carolis) 3 (1)to 3 (3) (page 10 Sinhala Families
(SF) vol 3)
3 (1) Don Hendirick Muhandiram, d:1828 (left no issue)
3 (2) Dona Palentina Sophiya Seneviratne , b
approx 1781 alive 1857+ Don Daniel
Alwis Wijesiriwardena Gunathilake Mohandiram from
Bentara, (Walalvita
Korale)died 29/5/1850 (page 10 and
page 65 sf vol 3-paul pieris) (Son of Abraham Gunathileke
Siriwardena
Mohandiram b1745-1814,who had 12 children.) (Palentina had 2
children Helena and
Eliza)4 (1)&4 (2)
4
(1) Helena de Alwis b1810,
(d/o Don Daniel de Alwis Gunathilake Mohandiram of
Bentota and Sophia
Palentina d of Louis Gunasekere Seneviratne)+ (m1847)Don
John Gerard Cornelis Gunasekere
Seneviratne,b1792-d4/8/1873 (son of Phillipoe Gunasekere
Seneviratne,Mudliyar
Kalutara,d1803)Two children 5 (1)&5 (2)
5
(1) Seneviratne + Thomas de Alwis
6 Richard Nicholas de Alwis + Ruberu
7
Pauline de Alwis.
7
Denham de Alwis
7
Caroline de Alwis
5 (2) Thomas
Leonard Gunasekera
Seneviratne, (CCS) b: 1848 d Nov 1908, ( Duwa watte
Walauwa,Desastara
Kalutara) + Jane Rajo de Alwis b approx
1860-d1915* of
Galkissa Walauwa (daughter
of Helena
Eliza de Alwis and Abraham de Alwis Wijesinghe Siriwardene)
(3137) (M approx
1880) (Jane was a grand daughter of Sieckbertus Daniel de
Alwis bp 1814) (Sieckbertus's
parents were Hendrick de Alwis and Florentina DB,daughter of
Daniel DB) He had
3 sons. Thomas Seneviratne may have inherited some land in
Kalutara. Jane Rejo
de Alwis inherited half of the Galkissa Walauwa, property
opposite the Galkissa
cemetery ,25 acres fromWwellawatte and 38 acres at Mawanella.
(They had 3 sons)6
(1)to 6 (3)
6 (1) Edwin Henry
Seneviratne, (Coroner),
(in 1910 Training College )1886-d
Nov 1946 + Eugine
Caroline Gertrude de Saram,
b1896-d29/12/1980,
(3121) (M approx 1925) He had
3 children. 7 (1) to 7
(3)
Edwin
from the sale of his share in Wellawatte, bought land in
Mihindu mawatha from
his cousin Leo de Alwis, also bought land in Terrance Avenue
from his cousin, Lilian
de Alwis, around the year 1930.Edwin may have inherited land
in Kalutara from
his father Thomas Seneviratne. Edwin inherited 35
perches,opposite the
cemetery,from his mother.He also inherited 1/6th share of the
Galkissa
Walauwwa, which he sold to his brother Jimmy.
Eugine
may have inherited some land in Kalutara through her husband,
and the writer
remembers Eugine donating some land in Kalutara to a close by
temple in
Desastara Kalutara,around the year 1972,as the head priest
visited Dehiwela for
the transaction. Eugine also inherited half share of the
udahawalawwa in
Mihindu Mawatha from her father Peter de Saram, but exchanged
it for the land
opposite the odeon in Galle road with Christy de Saram her
brother.This land
had a house called Sea View, which later was given to their
son Lionel...
Eugine alao inherited some land in Ratmalana, which she sold
and from proceeds
bought two houses in Colpetty,around the year 1956. (It is
believed the Sea
view property and Teddy de Saram property had been bought by
Peter de Saram
from thr Pieris family, who their ancestor had married Maria
de Saram a
daughter of Anthonan de Saram.
7
(1) Conrad Hithaprema Seneviratne (Graduate) (1926-1950) STC Mt
Lavinia) (died of cancer)
7
(2) Gertrude Hemawathi Seneviratne (b:12/4/1931-d1/6/2023)
Eng Inst/Journalist,
Graduate + Louis
Charles de Livera (1919-1969) (STC Mt Lavinia)
Lawyer (3109)
(M1955) She had 3 children.
8
Sunil Yohananda de Livera (13/9/1956-Nov
2003)
Musician (STC Mt
Lavinia)
8
Jagath Manjula de Livera (b:17/1/1960)
STC
Mt Lavinia, Accountant /Dy Chief Internal Auditor (UDA) SL/Aus
+ Lakshmi
Arulanandam, (Lawyer)
(M1993)migrated to
Australia. in
2006
9
Rahul de Livera b1994 (Degree
in
Engineering and a Law Degree)
9
Shruti de Livera b2001 (Monash University,double degree
business
&banking)
8
Lankika Erandathi de Livera (b:18/2/1964-9/4/2011),
Bishopian,
Journalist (M1990) + (M1)Prasanna
Panditharatne,
(Royalist)d2009 (Businessman)
9
Kusan Panditharatne b1995 (STC
Mt
Lavinia)
8
2nd spouse of Lankika de Livera (M2003) + Srikumar (STC Mt Lavinia),
Accountant)
7
(3) Lionel Janaki Seneviratne (b:21/7/1938-d13/8/2024)
(STC Mt Lavinia)
Chief Engineer, Bank of
Ceylon + Premalatha Pagodaarachchi (Doctor,
Head of Blood Bank, Kalubowila Hospital) (M approx 1970)
8
Yasoja Seneviratne USA +
Sumedha Perera
9 Maya Perera b2015
6
(2) Dr Arthur Fritz
Senewiratne (Eye Specialist Kandy
Hospital) (LMS cey
1927,LRCP edin,LRFP glas1925,DOoxford 1927) (b approx 1888) +
Lizzie Harriot
Wijewardena, (aunt of
President J R Jayawardena) (3062,3143),
(Arthur
lived at Galkissa Walauwwa in 1910, and married approx 1920)
7
Nanda Seneviratne (b1922-d10/11/2002)Transport
Manager
Lake House.,later Wijeya Newspapers,Agriculture Graduate (Peradeniya),Royalist
+ Clare Senewiratne nee
David (d2007)
Journalist
8
Viraj Senewiratne + Dhakshina
7
Kumari Seneviratne
6
(3) James Christofelsz Senewiratne (b
approx 1906-d:1969) + Millicent Samarakkody
(b1911-d:8/4/1995)
(M approx 1928) (d of
Henry Samarakkody) They had 3 children. 7 (1)to 7 (3)
7
(1)
Wasanthi Senewirane (b1933-d
2019)+
Marshal Wijesinghe (b1929-d:1988)
(Air Force)
(M 1968)
8
Ayanthi Wijesinghe + Samith Jayasekera
7
(2) Ranjith Senewiratne (Personnel
Mgr-State
Trading) (STC Mt
Lavinia)b14/4/1939
+ Deepthi Malalgoda. (M approx 1970)
8
Hirantha Senewiratne (STC
Mt
Lavinia) + Anja Lurvink
7
(3) Dr Tissa Senewiratne (Chief
Medical
Officer CMC) (STC
Mt Lavinia)b23/3/1940-d25/5/2023
+ Shrini Attygalle (Rescidence
Galkissa
Walauwwa) (M approx 1967)
8 Thishani Senewiratne + Amal De Mel
9
Amashi De Mel b1994 +Lakshman
10
Taavi
9
Shineli De Mel
8
Chaminda Senewiratne (STC
Mt
Lavinia) + Misthi de Silva (Md
1994)
4 (2) Eliza de Alwis
+Diedrick Henry Dissanayake Tillekeratne,b1820-d15/2/1883
Mudliyar Weligam
Korale. (Eliza de
Alwis is a daughter of
Daniel de Alwis Wijesiriwardena Goonatilleke
Mohandiram and Sophiya Palentina Seneviratne)
2
(1)
3
(3) Don Carolis Seneviratne b:1780 Mudaliyar
Kalutara (1
child) (Son of Louis Wickremaratne
Goonasekere Seneviratne.) 1 child.
4
Don Haramanis Seneviratne b:1820 Mudaliyar Siyane Korale, m
27/5/1847 (4
children-5 (1)to5 (4)
5 (1)
Susan Elizabeth Seneviratne of
Walgama b
approx 1853-d1909 (Sister
of Solomon Seneviratne Mudliyar + (m11/11/1875)
Francis James de Livera b18/2/1847-d1901 (Son of Solomon de
Livera and Petrenella Dias
Bandaranaike)
Susan Elizabeth
Seneviratne
of Walgama Adhikari Pattu of Siyane Korale. (This
area is like Kelaniya)
(b 1853
-d approx 1909+ Francis
James de Livera
Seneviratne b18/2/1847- d1901
(Testramentary
case ,guardian in the case Harry Dias Bandaranaike of
Kelanimulla, ,5 children
as per testramentary case ,children mentioned, Emma de
Livera Seneviratne,)
(T
case of 1910 mentions 5
children,baby de Livera,,,Emma,Annie,Abraham & Harry.)
(petitioner was
Julias Abraham de Livera)
(
Eliza de Livera Seneviratne of
Walgama and Grace Seneviratne of Malwana are born approx 1825
and are sisters.)
(Grace Seneviratne + William Alexander DB,b approx 1830)
6 (1) Emma de
Livera Seneviratne b approx
1877 (alive
1935) (M1898)+Julias Abraham
de Livera Tennakoon of Ampitigala ( b approx 1876,d 11/4/1936) (Julias From the branch of
Denawakaralage Don
Louis de Livera (1,2 (2),3 (5)4 (6),5,
6 (3)7,8 (1)) (5 children)
(Ceylon
Gazette of 25/10/1935,mentions land aquisition of villages of Walgama and Malwana,Lot 21&23
Alutelabadaowita,mentions
Eliza de Livera's 5 children, baby de livera , Emma,Annie
&Harry.)
7
(1) Abraham Marcus de Livera Tennakoon (b 11/9/1899-d12/3/1985) (Gazette
1926-Jurors/Assessor Nuwara Eliya Kachcherie) +Anna
Florentina Dias Bandaranaike (1001)
b20/7/1900, m23/6/1922,d10/1/1977married at All Saints church
Hulsdorph) (daughter
of Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike.) (Had 2 children- Rita May
de Livera and
Solomon Christoffel Obeyesekere de Livera)
8 Rita May de
Livera (unmarried)b20/4/1922
8
Solomon
Christoffel Obeyesekere de Livera (b 20/4/ 1923-
d25/7/ 2011)
(Lawyer)
+ Indrani Nimal
Pieris (They
had 3 children)M1953 (d of Dr MVP
Pieris)
9 Asanthi de
Livera (Austraia)
b1956+ Oswin de Alwis b1949
9 Shanaka de Livera b
1959 (Lawyer)
(STC Mt Lavinia) (lives in Colombo)
+ Samanda
Senaratne (decendent
of Amarasekera family 3068)
(Shanaka
de Livera,as at today owns some of the
fields in Ampitigala, which Don Simon de Livera owned in
1770,as per
thombu records,250
years ago.)
10 Shelan de
Livera b1993
10
Sajin de Livera b1994
9 Priyan de Livera b
1961 (Lawyer)
(Stc Mtl) unmarried.
7 (2) Edmund de
Livera (of
Anguruwatota)d28/12/1969+ Diana Hazel Margret
Pieris (m1940)
8
Diana Hazel de Livera b10/6/1942+ Jeramyn Fernando M1970
9 Dilanjan +Chamindi Wevita
10 Kiara
10
Andrew
7 (3) Eric de Livera
Tennakoon of Ampitigala Walauwwa (b
13/4/1910-d15/8/1964)+ M24/8/1944 Helen Maude Patricia
Tillekeratne (b4/11/1919-d14/8/2020
died at 99 years.) (Sister
of Patrick Tillekeratne,d
of Cyril Tillekeratne)
8
Priyanee Edith de Livera +Lakshman Dissanayake (M1975)
9
Sunela Dissanayake+ Sashi Mohotti
10 Atira
9
Indika Dissanayake +Heshantha De Mel
10 Neshali De Mel
7 (4) Victor Lionel
de Livera Tennakoon (unmarried)d
13/2/1996
7 (5) Catherine
Daphne de Livera d3/4/1958 +Eric
Leonard Dissanayake Tillekeratne
(died 1944) (Clerk
Matara
Kachcherie,retired in 1930) (Eldest son of Harry Lambertus
Dissanayake
Tillekeratne) (Testramentary case) (Catherine de Livera had 2
children) (Ampitigala
walauwwa Anguruwatota Kalutara)
8
Constance Daphne Tillekeratne + Herbert Tillekeratne
9 Herman Tillekeratne
8
Ranjani Sunethra Tillekeratne
6 (2) Baby
de Livera (unmarried)
b approx 1888 (Children
of Eliza de Livera)
6 (3) Anine
de Livera Seneviratne b approx 1890 of Walgama (Alive 1935)
6 (4)
Abraham de Livera Seneviratne b approx 1892 of Walgama
6 (5) Harry
de Livera Seneviratne (16
year minor in
1910) b 1894 of
Walgama (Alive 1935)
(details
from gazette 1910)
(Above
Abraham and Edmund de
Livera records seen in Nuwara Eliya birth records)
5 (2) Solomon Christoffel
Senewiratne,bMay1849, Audit office 1874 (died
28/4/1922) (CCS) 1883,Mudliyar
Ratnapura,kacherie. Mudaliyar Pasdum Korale,Attapattu
Mudaliyar in 1893 ,Kachcherie
Mudaliyar Colombo, educated at Queen's College and The Colombo
Academy (later
Royal College, (s/o
Don Hermanis Seneviratne, Mohandiram of
Siyane Korale, grandson of Don Carolis Seneviratne, Mudaliyar
of Kalutara,
great grandson of Don Louis Seneviratne, Mudaliyar of the same
place (,Atapattu
Mudaliyar.Colombo, Mudliyar of
Governors gate 1895), m:1891 + Charlotte Matilda Dias Bandaranaike, b:18/11/1869-29/4/1896
(daughter of
Christoffel Dias
Bandaranaike Mudliyar Siyane Korale East) (1001) (8 children)
(They resided in White
house, Ward place ,built by him around 1890.) (Page 524,20th
Century
Impressions of Ceylon) (Gazette 1910 voters list says he lived
at White House
Ward Place.Cinomon Gardens) 8 children.6 (1)to 6 (8).
(They resided at white
house in Ward Place
Colombo.Their country house is at Kandahena Veyangoda.He was a
member of the
Agriculture Society and Horticultural Society.He eceived a
gold medal from the
British Governtment for his services.)
6
(1) Stephen
Christopher Senewiratne
b15/8/1895-d,July 1959 (Educated at Trinity all Cambridge)+ Lilian Rosalin de Alwis
(1895-15/10/1933)
(daughter of
Daniel Albert de Alwis and Grace
Rosalin Dias Bandaranaike) (m5/4/1923)
(Stephen Senewiratne
resided at White House at
Ward Place ,later they shifted to Duff House in Bagatale Road
Colombo. Their
country residence was Kandahena Estate Veyangoda. Stephen
Senewiratne was
educated at Cambridge, and was a non practising Barrister. He
was interested in
Agriculture.
In
1933,he was convicted by a 5-2 verdict, and sentenced for the
murder of his
wife. (Duff House Murder Case)
He
appealed to the Privy Council in England, and on 29/7/1936,his
appeal was
allowed, and the death sentence which had been commuted to
rigorous
imprisonment for life was squashed. Stephen left prison after
spending 30
months in prison. (He
had 2 children)
7
(1) Solomon Terrance Senewiratne b1926-dNov 2004 (Director of
Agriculture Peradeniya.) (worked
at the Asian Development Bank Manila.)+Daisy Dias Abeysinghe,
d of Annesly Dias
Abeysinghe. (divorced
no issue.)
(It is said that
Terrance Avenue in Mt Lavinia
is named after him,as his mother Lilian owned land in that
road.)
7
(2) Son, b and died 1926.
6 (2)Solomon Christoffel
Senewiratne d8/12/1894 (died
young)
6 (3)Son, died young
6
(4) Joseph Fredrick (
Eric )Senewiratne
b1898-d1978+
(M1927)Helen Ray
Dassenaike ,d of Louis Arthur Dassenaike, Mudaliyar.-
(Eric lived in their coconut estate-No issue.)
6 (5) George Noel
Senewiratne ,b26/6/1897-d1936+
Erin Violet Dias Bandaranaike b25/5/1898-d29/2/1984 (5 children)
(m28/12/1922) (Lived in
Pallewela)7 (1)to7 (5) (Erin,d of Earnest DB)
7 (1) Erin
Senewiratne
b1/9/1923,+m23/5/1943 Cecil de Rozairo (8
children)
8 (1) Swarna de
Rozairo +Vasantha Obeyesekere
9 Asanga
Obeyesekere
9 Kanishka
Obeyesekere
8 (2) Vasantha de
Rozairo +Sunny Perera
9 Thusitha Perera
9 Kalinga Perera
8 (3) Tissa de Rozairo+Sanoja
de Alwis
9 Anjana de
Rozairo
9 Nishika de Rozairo
8 (4) Maheswari de
Rozairo + Shelton Upali Geeganage
9 Risda Geeganage
9
Shashini Geeganage
8 (5) Chandana de
Rozairo d1978
8 (6) Dushyantha de
Rozairo+Manel Kalubowila
8 (7) Dushmantha de
Rozairo unmarried
8 (8) Yasoma de
Rozairo +Purapati Galloluwa
9 Purani Galloluwa
7
(2)
Eunis Senewiratne
b29/3/1928-d4/10/2007 +Piyadasa Gunerwardena
8 Asoka Gunerwardene
unmarried
8 Damayanthi
Gunerwardene +Trevor Wanniachy
9 Rushayne
9 Shehan
7
(3)
Nissanka Senewiratne.,b1/9/1933-d13/4/1984
+ (m22/6/1964) Patricia
Samaranayake (3
children)
8 Nilmini
Senewiratne,b10/5/1965 unmarried (UK)
8 Nishan Senewiratne
,b1966 +Dilhani Fernando (UK)
8 Kumari Senewiratne
+Palitha Kalubowila
9 Vihanga
9 Jaindhu
9 Judeesha
7 (4) Daphne
Gladys Senewiratne
b22/10/1926-9/5/2010+ Orville Abeynaike (Bowler ,Royal Thomian
1941, later Sub Warden
STC Mt Lavinia..)4 children.
8
Ranil Abeynaike (StcMtl) (1955-21/2/2012) (Cricketer)+Roshika
Tissera
8. Mohan
Abeynaike (Accountant)
8.Amitha Abeynaike (Accountant)d
30/10/2022 (Stc
Mtl) (Hockey)+Yahli
9 Suhela
Abeynaike
9 Sarinda
Abeynaike
8.Ajith Abeynaike (Accountant)
+Julie Spezza (lives
in Australia)
7
(5) Lionel Senewiratne
b20/10/1929-d30/4/1971+ Vinie Senewiratne (Surangani? (d of
Francis Senewiratne &
Glady's DB-1st marriage) (10 children)8 (1) to 8 (10)
8 (1) Palitha
Senewiratne,b1952 unmarried
8 (2) Nimal
Senewiratne,b1956+Chandrika
8 (3) Ranjith
Senewiratne,b1957+Indrani
8 (4) Mohan
Senewiratne,b1959+Sriani
8 (5) Manel
Senewiratne,b1961+Upali Balasuriya
8
(6) Malkanthi Senewiratne,b1962
unmarried
8 (7) George
Senewiratne,b1964,+Lalitha
8 (8) Linster
Senewiratne,b1967 unmarried
8 (9) Kanthi
Senewiratne,b1968 unmarried
8
(10) Palitha Lalith
Senewiratne,b1970,unmarried.
6
(6)
Charles Edward (Charlie)
Senewiratne
(Advocate)
b26/3/1900+ Roxina Dassenaike,d
of John HP Dassenaike & Agnes DB of Kelanimulle, they had
1 son.
7
Charles
Edward (Eddie
)Senewiratne (24/5/1928-16/5/2021)
(Managed the Kandahena
coconut estate in Nittambuwa) (m9/5/1959)+ Lorna de Saram b
approx 1931 (3126) (d of Christopher (Christy)
de Saram d approx 1979)and Margret de Alwis Senewiratne of
Kalutara) (2
children)
8
Anoja Chandrika Senewiratne (b27/7/1962-d
25/5/1997)+
Dr Nalin Gooneratne
9
Upendra Gooneratne
9
Harin Gooneratne
8
Anil Ranjan Senewiratne b15/2/1965 (Managed Estate in
Nittambuwa) (M1996)+
Rochelle Schucroff -no issue
6 (7) Phillip
Henricus Senewiratne
(JP, Assistant
Scout Commissioner) b1902+
Nenie
Samarakkody b1911-d1974 (3118) d
of Peter Augustus Samarakkody
(2 children)
(M1931) (Philip had a
coconut estate in Urapola.)
7
Dr
Brian Senewiratne b16/1/1932 (Consultant Physician)
(MA-Cantab,MBB-Chir-Cantab,MBBS-Lond,MD-Lond,FRCP-Lond,FRACP)
(Human rights activist)+ Kamalani Alagaratnam (migrated to
Queensland Australia) (2
children)
8 Dr Romesh Senewiratne
Alagaratnam+ (M1)Susan
Ellis Smith
9.Ruby
Senewiratne
8 Dr
Romesh Senewiratne + (M2)Sara
Di Genova
9.Zoe Di Genova
Senewiratne
8
Dr Shireen Senewiratne + Robert Purssey
9.Nisharn
Senewiratne
9 Talita
Senewiratne b1995
7
Phoebe
Senewiratne + Nanda Yatawara (Resident
in
UK)
8 Kavan Yatawara
8 Lakshman Yatawara
8
Neliya Yatawara
6 (8) John Francis
Senewiratne (b19/8/1904-d3/2/1998)
(Officer in Public
Trustee Office) (M1) + Glady Dias Bandaranaike d of Fredrick
Hugh Dias
Bandaranaike (3
children)
7
(1)
Sakuntala Senewiratne b21/5/1932+Siri Peiris
8
Ravindra+Meriyam Nonis
8
Ratnel+Surangani
7
(2)
Sieevanatha Senewiratne d1960 unmarried.
7
(3)
Surangani Vinie Senewiratne b29/5/1933 (M1952)+ Lionel
Senewiratne (20/10.1929-30/4/1971)
(10 children)
8 (1) Palitha
Senewiratne,b1952 unmarried
8 (2) Nimal
Senewiratne,b1956+Chandrika
8 (3) Ranjith
Senewiratne,b1957+Indrani
8 (4) Mohan
Senewiratne,b1959+Sriani
8 (5) Manel
Senewiratne,b1961+Upali Balasuriya
8 (6) Malkanthi
Senewiratne,b1962 unmarried
8 (7) George
Senewiratne,b1964,+Lalitha
8 (8) Linster
Senewiratne,b1967 unmarried
8
(9) Kanthi Senewiratne,b1968
unmarried
8 (10)
Palitha Lalith Senewiratne,b1970,unmarried
6 (8) 2nd
spouse of John
Francis Senewiratne (M2)
+ Grace
Chandrani Tillekaratne ,d of Arthur Tillekeratne and Mary
Samarakkody (4
children) (Had land at Panagoda) Lived
later at Jambugasmulla, Nugegoda. (See Tillekeratne and
Samarakkody Family
Trees)
7
Ranjith Senewiratne
(b22/5/1947-d29/6/1967)
7
Francis
Nimal Senewiratne (b8/9/1949-d
2014)+
Geethanjali de Zilva (m23/11/1972)
(2
children)
8
Amanda Senewiratne b12/3/1988,+M1,Reshan Bharati
9 Kenul
Senewiratne Bhareti
8 Amanda
Senewiratne +M2 Hazeem Iqbal
8 Eshan Senewiratne
7
Niranjala
Senewiratne + Kalinda Doranagoda d 2015
8
Shamila Doranagoda + Duminda Maligaspe (Aus)
9
Dinuri
Maligaspe
9 Tharuki
Maligaspe
7
Priyani
Senewiratne + Mohan Samarakkody (Son of Amy
Samarakkody) (Lived at Lenegala
Estate Panagoda.)
8
Sandeepani Samarakkody + Chandima Alutwala
8
Yasamali Buddhini Samarakkody +Arun Muthusamy
5 (3)Matilda Grace Seneviratne of
Malwana. b approx 1848 (6 children)+ (m17/6/1872)William
Alexander Dias
Bandaranaike son of Bastian Franciscus Dias Bandaranaike 6 (1)
to 6 (6)
6 (1)
Alexander Solomon William Dias
Bandaranayake,b4/4/1873-d12/11/1921 Muhandiram of Siyane
Korale (unmarried)
6 (2)
Agnes Harriet Dias Bandaranayaka ,b
28/10/1874 + John H.P Dassenaike of Bellana,Pasdum Korale
6 (3)
Grace Rosalind Dias
Bandaranayaka,b4/10/1876-d21/2/1922 + Daniel Albert de Alwis
of Galkissa.b1860-d
30/8/1903 (3
children)
7 (1) Lilian Rosalin
de Alwis b1895- d 1933+ Stephen Senewiratne
8
Terrance
Senewiratne 1926-2007
7 (2) Henry De
Alwis d1907
(The writer believes
Samudragiri Walauwwa was
built on land originally of Anthonan de Saram b1675, given to
Maria de Saram
b1705 who married Louis Pieris.Then the land was inherited by
Wilhelmus Pieris
b1730, land then given to Angenita Pieris who married
Alexander DB b1757,their
son was Bastian Franciscus DB b1780,their son William
Alexander DB b1830,William's
daughter was Grace Rosalind DB b1876. Writer believes, Daniel
Albert de Alwis
inherited 50 acres at Wellawatte,from the wife of Leonard de
Saram.From the
proceeds of sale of Wellawatte land, the Samudragiri Walauwwa
was built on the
land inherited by Grace Rosalind Dias Bandaranayake in de
Saram Road Mt Lavinia
by Leo de Alwis around the year 1925)
7
(3)
Leonard de Alwis (Leo)
b approx 1880
+ Alexandra
Camelia Bandaranaike
b26/8/1903- (M1923) (sister of SWRD), lived at
"Samudragiri"
Walauwa ,de Saram Road,in Mount Lavinia. 8
(1) Shirlene De
Alwis + Earle Jayawardena
9 Amal Jayawardena + Waruni
8
(2) Lankasa De
Alwis
(tenor singer) + Joy
Dassenaike
(cousins)
9
Ranjith de Alwis
10
Raneesha de Alwis
10
Radeena de Alwis
8
(3) Rukie (Rukmani)
de Alwis b:26 Mar
1926-20/3/2017 + Percy
Eheliyagoda (They
had 5 children)
9 Leo Eheliyagoda + Ramya Wijetunge
10 Rosanth Eheliyagoda
9
Shalimar Eheliyagoda +
Uma
Kumar Sharma
10
Shanikar
Sharma +Migara
Alwis- m:2009
10 Aashiana
Alwis- June
2011
10
Sandesh Sharma
9
Charmaine
Eheliyagoda , Attorney-at-Law, a member of
the National Police
Commission appointed by H.E.The President of Sri
Lanka +
Lakshman Madurasinghe, m:1979 held
at All Saints Church Hulftsdorp in Aug 1979
+ Professor
Lakshman
Madurasinghe,
born in Galle, STC Prep School
Kollupitiya 1959-1960 (LKG/UKG), STC Mount Lavinia 1961-72,
Attorney at Law, Fellow-CIPD UK
10
Rosanth Lakshan
Madurasinghe, graduate of
the University of London (England). + Nishani Fernando of Wennappuwa on
July 7 2007
11 Romaan
Athan Madurasinghe Aug 2008
9
Lankani Eheliyagoda
9
Devika Eheliyagoda
[
see web site at http://ceo.intellect.googlepages.com/familytree ]
6 (4)
George Abraham Dias Bandaranayaka
,b1/11/1877-d19/11/1922- Unmarried.Mudliyar Hewagam Korale.
6 (5)
Harry Peter Dias Bandaranayaka,b15/2/1881
+
Rene May Dassenaike (d
of Edmund
Dassenaike.) (m1916)
7 Edmund Henry
Alexander Dias Bandaranayaka,b11/10/1917
-d1/8/2007 ,+Delicia Goonetilleke
8
Arun Dias Bandaranayaka (TV
Presenter,Sports Commentator) +Julian de
Saram.
7 Ruby Grace Dias
Bandaranayaka,b 29/1/1919- d
18/12/2012,+Danton Gamunu
Obeyesekere,Barrister at Law,Trinity College Cambridge,Assesor
Income tax dept (m19/5/1938)
8
Arjuna Obeyesekere
8
Shireen Obeyesekere +Priya Amarasinghe
9
Shehan Amarasinghe
9
Rajive
Amarasinghe
8
Indra Obeyesekere + Anoma Illangakoon
9
Gemunu Obeyesekere
8
Ajith Obeyesekere +Shamala Dassenaike
7 Arthur Leonard Dias Bandaranayaka,b
13/1/1922-d20/4/2002
+
Etienne
Dias Bandaranayaka, d:14 Feb 2004 (grand daughter of
Walter Dias Bandaranayaka)
8
Rev Suresh Dias Bandaranayaka (Anglican
Pastor)
+ Daphne Hope Ratnaike.
8
Rosanara Dias Bandaranayaka b1953 + Sunil Dias Bandaranayaka (Son of Kingsley de
Saa Bandaranaike and
Trixie Seneviratne)
9
Rosunthi Dias
Bandaranayaka
6 (6)
Reginald Edward Dias
Bandaranayaka b1886-d 31/12/1941 + (M2/1/1931)Vimala
Rambukpotha (d of
Rambukpotha Rate
Mahatmaya.)
7
Kavantissa Dias Bandaranayaka
5 (4)Henricus Senewiratne
2 (2)
Don Johannes Wijesekera Seneviratne Mudaliyar (d:4/10/1845), + Johanna
Abeysekera Seneviratne
Lama Etini d1856 d of Don Louis
Abeyesekere Seneviratne Mohandiram.
2 (3) Dona Gunasekera
Seneviratne (daughter) + Andris de
Alwis (Salpita
Korale) d 5/1/1795
2 (4) Don Bastian Seneviratne (died
1809) no issue.
2 (5)
Dona Florentina Seneviratne (d:1856) + Mohandiram
Juan de Alwis Wiresekera
Appuhami Mohandiram of Bentota d1846
2 (6) Don Phillip Gunasekere
Seneviratne (Phillipoe),Mudliyar
of Kalutara,Rayigam
Korale, b approx 1761 (Mudaliyar Dec 1782)
died 1803 + Dona Ana Helena de
Alwis Hamine bp 1/1/1766, is engaged 5/2/1786 married in
Christ church Galkissa
on 17/5/1786, d:1853 (d/o
Don Daniel de
Alwis Gunathilake Samarasinghe Mudaliyar of Salpita Korale.Don
Daniel de Alwis,
is believed to be born in Galkissa of Salpita Korale.As his
father,Phillipoe de
Alwis of Bentota may have settled in Galkissa of Salpita
Korale around 1739
after marriage.) Don Phillip received certificates from Dutch
& British
Governors. He also received land in Kalutara Fort, from
Governor Van de Graaf
as reward for planting cinnamon for the government. Don
Phillip Seneviratne
received a gold chain and a medal from Governor Van de Graaf
for his services.
Became Mudliyar in December 1782 (He
also had land in the village of Migama in Kalutara district
according to the
Thombu Index.) (Don Phillip is supposed to have received 3
certificates from
Dutch and British, the writer is in possession of two
certificates.) (Page 11 Sinhala
Families of Paul Pieris vol 3) (3 chidren)
3 (1)
Herat Gunasekere Seneviratne (Translator Kandy
Kachcheri)
4 Thomas
Louis Gunasekera
Seneviratne
3 (2) Dona Johanna Seneviratne (b approx 1788)
(d:1826)+ Johan Cornelis de
Alwis Gunerwardena Seneviratne Mudaliyar (1st marriage)
(Mudaliyar of Kalutara 1791) (Son
of Floris de Alwis)
3 (3) Don John Gerard Cornelis Seneviratne (b1792-4
Aug 1873) + m 1847
Helena de Alwis
b1810, (d/o Don
Daniel de Alwis Gunathilake
Muhandiram of Bentota and Sophia Palentina ,Sophia is d of Louis
Gunasekere Seneviratne of Kalutara )
(2 children)
4
(1) Seneviratne + Thomas de Alwis
5
Richard Nicholas de Alwis + Ruberu
6
Pauline de Alwis.
6
Denham de Alwis
6
Caroline de Alwis
4 (2) Thomas
Leonard Gunasekera
Seneviratne, (CCS) b: 1848 -d Nov 1908, ( Duwa watte
Walauwa,Desastara
Kalutara) + Jane Rejo de Alwis b approx
1860-d1915 of
Galkissa Walauwa (daughter
of Helena
Eliza de Alwis and Abraham de Alwis Wijesinghe Siriwardene)
(3137) (M approx
1880) (Jane was a grand daughter of Sieckbertus Daniel de
Alwis bp 1814) (Sieckbertus's
parents were Hendrick de Alwis and Florentina Dias
Bandaranaike ,daughter of
Daniel DB) (Thomas and Jane settled in Galkissa Walauwa.)
(They had 3 Sons) (Thomas
Leonard Gunasekara's paternal grandmother, is Helena de Alwis,
her brother'
Hendrick's great grand daughter is Jane Rejo de Alwis.)
Thomas Seneviratne
may have inherited some land in
Kalutara. Jane Rejo de Alwis inherited half of the Galkissa
Walauwa, and property
opposite the Galkissa cemetery ,25 acres from Wellawatte and
38 acres at
Mawanella.
5 (1) Edwin Henry
Seneviratne, (Coroner),
(in 1910 Training College as per
voters list) 1886-d Nov1946 + Eugine
Caroline Gertrude de Saram,
b1896-d29/12/1980,
(3121) (M approx 1925) (They
lived at Sea
view,opposite the Odeon)
Edwin
,from the proceeds of Wellawatte property sale, bought from
his cousins, Leo de
Alwis ,land in Mihindu Mawatha, and from Lilian de Alwis land
in Terrance Avenue,
around the year 1930.
Eugine
may have inherited some land in Kalutara through her husband,
and the writer
remembers Eugine donating some land in Kalutara to a close by
temple in
Desastara Kalutara ,around the year 1972,as the head priest
visited Dehiwela
for the transaction.
Supposed
to have and sold 50 acres at Madapatha
6
Conrad Hithaprema Seneviratne (Graduate)
(b1926-d1950) STC
Mt Lavinia) (died of
cancer at 24 years)
6
Gertrude Hemawathi Seneviratne (b:12/4/1931-d1/6/2023)
Eng
Inst/Journalist, Graduate. (Senior English instructor Kelaniya
University
from 1972 to 1993) + Louis
Charles de Livera (6/5/1919-19/7/1969) (STC Mt Lavinia)
Lawyer (3109)
(M1955)
7
Sunil Yohananda de Livera (13/9/1956-Nov
2003)
Musician (STC Mt
Lavinia)
7
Jagath Manjula de Livera (b:17/1/1960)
STC
Mt Lavinia, Accountant /Dy Chief Internal Auditor (UDA) SL/Aus
+ Lakshmi Arulanandam,
(Lawyer) (M1993)migrated to
Australia. in
2006
8
Rahul de Livera b1994 (Degree
in
Engineering and a Law Degree)
8
Shruti de Livera b2001 (Monash University)
7
Lankika Erandathi de Livera (b:18/2/1964-9/4/2011),
Bishopian,
Journalist (M1990) + (M1)Prasanna
Panditharatne,
(Royalist)d2009 (Businessman)
8
Kusan Panditharatne b1995 (STC
Mt
Lavinia)
7
2nd spouse of Lankika de Livera (M2003) + Srikumar (STC Mt Lavinia),
Accountant)
6
Lionel Janaki Seneviratne (b:21/7/1937-d13/8/2024)
(STC Mt Lavinia)
(Studied Civil
Engineering and worked in England from 1962 to 1968) Chief
Engineer, Bank of
Ceylon (1972-1992) + Premalatha Pagodaarachchi (Doctor, Head of Blood
Bank, Kalubowila
Hospital) (M approx 1970)
7
Yasoja Seneviratne
USA + Sumedha Perera
8 Maya Perera b2015
5
(2) Dr Arthur Fritz
Senewiratne (Eye Specialist Kandy
Hospital) (LMS Cey
1927,LRCP Edin,LRFP glas1925,DOoxford 1927) (b approx 1888) +
Lizzie Harriet
Wijewardena, (aunt of
President J R Jayewardene) (3062,3143),
(Arthur
lived at Galkissa Walauwwa in 1910, and married approx 1920)
6
Nanda Senewiratne (b1922-d10/11/2002)Transport
Manager
Lake House. ,later Wijeya Newspapers, Agriculture Graduate (Peradeniya),Royalist
+ Clare Senewiratne nee
David (d2007)
Journalist
7
Viraj Senewiratne + Dhakshina
6
Kumari Seneviratne
5
(3) James Christofelsz Senewiratne (b
approx 1906-d:1969) + Millicent Samarakkody
(b1911-d:8/4/1995)
(M approx 1928) (d of
Henry Samarakkody) Lived at Galkissa Walauwa. He had and sold
38 acres estate
at Mawanella.
6
(1)
Wasanthi Senewiratne (b1933-d
2019)+
Marshal Wijesinghe (b1929-d:1988)
(Air Force)
(M 1968)
7
Ayanthi Wijesinghe + Samith Jayasekera
6
(2) Ranjith Senewiratne (Personnel
Mgr-State
Trading) (STC Mt
Lavinia)b14/4/1939
+ Deepthi Malalgoda. (M approx 1970) (built
a new house in 1980's in Galkissa Walauwa garden.)
7
Hirantha Senewiratne (STC
Mt
Lavinia) + Anja Lurvink
6
(3) Dr Tissa Senewiratne (Chief
Medical
Officer CMC) (STC
Mt Lavinia)b23/3/1940-d25/5/2023
+ Shrini Attygalle (Residence
Galkissa
Walauwwa) (M approx 1967)
7 Thishani Senewiratne + Amal De Mel
8
Amashi De Mel b1994 +Lakshman
9
Taavi
8
Shineli De Mel
7
Chaminda Senewiratne (STC
Mt
Lavinia) + Misthi de Silva (Md
1994)
(The three Seneviratne
brothers of Galkissa
Walauwa ,Edwin
Seneviratne,
Arthur Senewiratne and (James)Jimmy Senewiratne,
donated about 2 acres of land in
1925, in Kawdana
Dehiwela, for the
purpose of building a temple. The
Anusubodharama buddhist temple
has
been built in that land.)
(Details of Galkissa
Walauwa below)
2 (7) Dona
Gunasekera Seneviratne (daughter)
+ de Livera Mudaliyar (Hewagam
Korale)?
2 (8) Dona Helena Seneviratne (b
approx 1760-d:15/4/1840) + Floris de Alwis
Goonerwardena Seneviratne,Vidane Mohandiram (b approx 1760-d:1800)
(Son of Reynolds
Gunerwardena Mudliyar) 6 children.
3
(1) David de Alwis Hidella Gunasekera Seneviratne (Mudaliyar Kalutara
and Panadura Totamunes.
President village tribunals Raygam Korale) (b1788-27/3/1853)
3rd Mudaliyar
.Resident in Kandy .Awarded Gold Medal by Governor Sir
Robert Brownrigg for eminent
services during the Kandyan Rebellion 1818. + Johanna
Agnetha Gertruda
Pieris b 8/7/1806 (d
of John Louis
Pieris Samarasinghe Siriwardene Mudliyar (8 children)
4 (1) Charles Abraham de Alwis Seneviratne b1832
unmarried
4 (2) Jane Gertruda de Alwis Seneviratne
b1833 +David de Alwis Mudliyar
4 (3) Johanna Maria Alwis Seneviratne
b1830 died young
4 (4) Hon Albert Louis
de Alwis Seneviratne
b 6/3/1842 (Member
of the Legislative
Council 1881-1900)+Johanna Caroline Perera (d of John Gerard
Perera (8
children)
5
(1) Theodore de
Alwis (Proctor)b1871+Clara
Emily de
Alwis (2 children)
6 (1)Theodore Shirley
de Alwis b1898+ Gwendolyn Bandaranaike,b1907 (d of Fredrick
Hugh Dias
Bandaranaike)2 children
7 (1) Theodore
Fredrick de Alwis b1927 +Iris Dissanayake (1 child)
8 Shirley
Mahinda de Alwis,b1961+Dilrukshi Weerakoon (2 children)
9
Nuwan de Alwis
b1989+Ranthiri Perera
10
Aindri Senali de Alwis
b2018
9
Radhini de Alwis
b1993
7 (2) Anula Devi de
Alwis +Edward Buskell (British) (They live in UK)
9 Stephen
9 Jill
9 Joan
6 (2) Albert de Alwis,b1900+Alice
de Alwis Seneviratne of Welipenna-no issue.
5 (2) Julia Meriam de
Awis,b1872 unmarried
5 (3) Catherine Lilian
d'Alwis b1874-1952+John William Perera
5 (4) Edgar David d'Alwis
b26/6/1876-d 2/7/1876
5 (5) Oliver Gerald d
Alwis, Crown counsel unmarried..Thomian cricket captain.
5 (6) Clarice de Alwis+ James
Abraham De Alwis,son of Abraham de Alwis.
5 (7) Dr David Basil de
Alwis b1883+ (m1 )Lilawathi Gooneratne (Lilawathi
had died at child birth) (In 1910, lived at 45 Messenger
Street Colombo.)
5 (7) Dr David Basil de
Alwis+ (m2)Iris Dassenaike (10
children)6
(1) to 6 (10)
6 (1)Ruth Lilawathi de
Alwis,b1935+Vincent Abrahams
6 (2) David Chandra de
Alwis 1926-1984
6 (3) Devadasa Basil de
Awis,b1927 +m1961 Sheila de Saram, d of Cyril de Saram (4 children)
7 (1) Devindra
Basil de Alwis,b17/10/1961-14/4/2021 (murdered in their
Naiwala estate
Minuwangoda-death result of head injuries,6 suspects were
arrested. Dispute
between 2 parties were the result)+Ranjini
7 (2) Shanelle de
Alwis +Malcolm Fernando
8 Sabrina Marissa
8 Jonathan
Michael
7 (3) David Rohan
de Alwis,b1968
7 (4) Niloo de
Alwis,b1971+Suresh Walpola
8 Tehani
Samantha
8 Ashan Steve
6 (4) Albert (Berti)de
Alwis+ Cynthia de Saram, d of Cyril
de Saram (1 child)
7 Christine de
Alwis,b15/6/1972
6 (5)Jane de Alwis
+Albert Fernando (3
children)
7 (1) Yohan Fernando
+Rebecca Hodge (divorced)3
children
8 Aritha +Jessica
9 Aryana
8 Tiyani Ariel
8
Danik Yohan
7 (2) Gyan Fernando
b1959 +Manjula Ratnasinham (divorced)
8 Dilshan
9 Heshan
7 (3) Parakrama
Dharshana Fernando,b1964 +Deepika Senapathirana
8 Parakrama Dilhan
8 Pramuka Danuk
6 (6) Rajha Nissanka de
Alwis +Marilyn Solomons (1
child)
7 Anouk de Alwis,b1970+Andre
John Viught
8 Sarah Maisee
8 Liam Jacob
6 (7) Noel de Alwis
1936-2021 unmarried
6 (8) Chitra
de Alwis b1938-2012 unmarried
6 (9)
Christine Malini de Alwis,b1940 +Rex
Abeykoon
6 (10) Sita de Alwis
+Conrad Abeysekara
5 (8)Arnold Valentine de
Alwis b1886
(De Alwis
Arnold Valentine
Goonesekera Seneviratne, born 1886, (President
Village Tribunal Rayigam Korale) 1921 Mohandiram Raiygam
Korale,1931 President
Village Tibunal-Raiygam Korale.)
4 (5) Johanna Carolina de Alwis
Seneviratne b1835
4 (6) Peter Louis de Alwis b1836
4 (7) Louisa Petrenela de
Alwis+m1861 Robert Wilson Dias Bandaranaike
4 (8) Agnes Harriot de Alwis + (m1
)Robert Goonetilleke
4 (8) Agnes Harriot de Alwis+ (m2)Harry
Dassenaike
3
(2) Johan Cornelis de Alwis Mudaliyar (Cornelis de Alwis
Mudaliyar 1791) Hewagam
Korale (JC de
Alwis is a son of Helena
Seneviratne and Foris de Alwis. Helena Seneviratne is a
brother of Phillip
Seneviratne)
M1+ Johanna
Seneviratne d1826 (d
of Phillip Gunasekera
Seneviratne Mudliyar Kalutara-d1803) (page 11 SF-vol3)
M2+Helena Rudolfina
de Alwis (d of
Adrian de Alwis) (page 3
SF -vol3)
3 (3) Albert de Alwis
unmarried
3 (4)daughter died young
3 (5)daughter died young
3 (6)George de Alwis
unmarried
2
(9) Dona Gunasekera
Seneviratne
(daughter)+
Wijekon Mudaliyar
xxx
History of Galkissa Walauwa.
Galkissa Walauwa
,is situated in the Western Province, in the border of
Dehiwela and Mount
Lavinia. It is built in the land side in the land called
Liyanaparangiyawatte
in present day Mihindu Mawatha.
(Possibly in the
Portuguese period prior to
1658, these lands were occupied by a Portuguese clerk, that
may be the reason
the name, "Liyanaparangiyawatte"
Gankanda
Arachchi who escaped from King Rajasinghe in year 1676, joined
the Dutch and
was made Mudliyar Salpita Korale,and took the name Alexander
de Saram. and may
have settled in Galkissa.
In
the Dutch period, it is said that ,16,000 coconut trees were
planted in Wellawatte,
and 15,000 coconut trees were planted in Galkissa around the
year 1685.
Possibly the Mudliyar of Salpita Korale Alexander de Saram and
his son, Antonan
de Saram was entrusted to develop these lands. And when the
Dutch company
policy changed, the mudliyars got the option to purchase these
lands. Hence
Antonan de Saram's grandson Louis de Saram ,may have inherited
part of these
lands.)
Galkissa
Walauwa was built in year 1820, and is over
200 years old. The land area of the (upstair) walauwa
,would have been
about 20 acres, from near Arpico to
Terrance Avenue (land side), (Dharmapala Mawatha to Dudly
Senanayake Mawatha (sea
side)and from the walauwa to the sea.
(It is possible that
there was another
walauwwa, of the de Saram's ,where the Galkissa Walauwwa was
built in the
period 1680 to 1820)
Galkissa
Walauwa was built by Louis
de Saram
Wirasinghe Siriwardena (built in present day Mihindu
Mawatha) (b
approx 1770) He built the Walauwwa in 1820
(Mohandiram
Salpita Korale)
Louis
de Saram b1770, was married to Elena de
Alwis. They had 2 children, Leonard de Saram,b1814 and
Depanchy de Saram. b
approx 1820
Leonard de Saram
Wirasinghe Siriwardena was born on
5/11/1814.d5/3/1872 (Mohandiram,Peace officer and deputy
Cornor). (His tomb is
at Christ church Dehiwela.)
He
inherited the Galkissa Walauwa property and 75 acres coconut
land from
Mahawellawatte. (Wellawatte)
He
married Susana
Hetroyda de
Alwis on 2/8/1847.Leonard and Susana
made a joint last will. But as Leonard died 1st, the property
went to Susan, as
they did not have children. On 2/2/1885, Susana gifted the
Galkissa walauwwa
property, to Leoanard's sisters daughter Helena de Alwis.
Susana
Hetroyda de Alwis, b approx 1830,died in April 1901.
(Dutch had coconut
planting agreements around
1670 with Alexander de Saram and with his son Anthonan de
Saram for Wellawatte
and Galkissa land. But around 1730 ,sold the lands to the
Mudaliyars who took
,planting agreements.)
Anthonan Wirasinghe
Siriwardhana de Saram Mudaliyar in year 20/7/1730
purchased 250 acres in Mahawellawatte from the Dutch
Government for 1355 RXD,
which he previously planted coconut for the Government.
(Leonard de Saram was
a great grand son of Anthonan de Saram.)
Depanchy
de Saram ,sister of Leonard de Saram, married Don Daniel
Siegbertus de Alwis
Gunathilake Samarasinghe
bp7/8/ 1814.
They had a daughter named ,Helena Eliza
de Alwis, b approx
1835.d1887.
Helena
Eliza de Alwis married Abraham de Alwis Wijesinghe
Siriwardena. (b approx 1831)
(m approx 1852).It appears that Abraham de Alwis and Susana
Hetroyda de Alwis
were brother and sister. There is also evidence ,that after
the death of Helena
Eliza in 1887,Abraham married again to Hetioida Pieris.
Helena
Eliza de Alwis had 2 children.
1 Daniel Albert de
Alwis b approx 1860- d30/8/1903.
He married Grace Rosalind Dias Bandaranaike b4/10/1876, who
died on 21/2/1922.
(had 3 children)
2 Jane
Rejo de Alwis b approx 1861-d1915.She married approx
1880.to Thomas Leonard
Gunasekera Seneviratne (CCS)
(b approx
1848-d Nov 1908) (Seneviratne's from Kalutara) (had 3
children)
After
the death of Helena de Alwis, Galkissa walauwa was jointly
owned by her 2
children Daniel and Jane Rejo de Alwis.
After
the death of Leonard de Saram in 1872,the properties were
inherited by his wife
Susana Hetroyda de Saram nee de Alwis.
There after Susana gifts the (Mahawellawatte)Wellawatte
properties
as follows.
(To her husband's
sister's grand children)
To
Daniel Albert de Alwis-50 acres at Mahawellawatte,Property
from galle road to
the sea in Galkissa. (Opposite Galkisa Walauwwa)
To
Jane Rejo Senewiratne nee de Alwis-25 acres at
Mahawellawatte,property opposite
the present day cemetery in Galkissa.
The
property from Galle Road to the sea was conveyed to the crown
with compensation
in 1844, and the present day Galkissa cemetery and a low
income housing scheme
was built.
Similarly
a small portion of property opposite the cemetery was acquired
for a children's
playground.
Daniel
Albert de Alwis had 3 children, Leonard,Lilian and Henry.
Jane
Rejo Senewiratne had 3 children, Edwin, Arthur and James (Jimmy).
So
each child had a 1/6th share of the Galkissa walauwa.
After
the sale of Wellawatte property, from the proceeds
(Daniel Albert de
Alwis's children)
Leonard
(Leo) de Alwis
,b1897, who married Alexandra
Dias Bandaranaike,b26/8/1903,M15/8/1923 built the Samudragiri
Walauwa in de
Saram road Mt Lavinia.
Lilian de Alwis
(1895-15/10/1933)who
married Steven
Senewiratne (1895-1959)and
resided in
Colombo, White House and later at Duff House.
Henry de Alwis
died young on 21/1/1907
(Jane Rejo de Alwis's
children)
Dr Arthur Senewiratne
(eye specialist) married Harriot Wijewardena (aunt of President JR
Jayawardene) and resided
in Colombo.
Edwin Senewiratne
(corner) (approx b1886-d
Nov1946)married
Eugine de Saram b1896-d1980
and resided
in her house ,sea view in Mt Lavinia. He from the proceeds
from the sale of his
share of Wellawatte property, bought land in present day
Mihindu Mawatha from
Leo de Alwis, and bought land in Terrance Avenue from Lilian
de Alwis.
James
(Jimmy
)Senewiratne (1906-1969)
bought the
1/6th shares of the five people and became the owner of the
Galkissa walauwa,
in 1923
It
is said that in the 1930's Jimmy had horses and a tiger in the
premises. But in
the early 1940's due to financial difficulty,he had to rent
the walauwa and
move out. And later on, he regained the walauwa.Jimmy died in
1969. Jimmy had 3
children, Wasanthi
Wijesinghe nee
Senewiratne, Ranjith
Senewiratne and Dr Tissa Senewiratne
In
1970,the walauwa building and immediate property now belonging
to Jimmy was
divided among his children. The walauwa building was given to
Dr Tissa
Senewiratne, and the other 2 children built houses on the
land. As at present,
the walauwa building is owned and occupied by Dr Tissa
Senewiratne. (Wasanthi,Ranjith
and Tissa got 33 perches each from walauwwa premises.)
On
25/5/2023, Dr Tissa Senewiratne passed away at 83 years ,he
had complications
with cancer. Now the Galkissa Walauwwa belongs to his daughter
and son, namely Thisanee
de Mel and Chaminda Senewiratne.
The period the families
occupied the Galkissa Walauwa.
1820-1901
De Saram family
1901-1930
De Alwis family & Senewiratne family
1930-2024
Senewiratne family
There
is evidence that Gankanda arachchi ,came with Don Manuel
Tennekoon,General in 1676,escaped
from King Rajasinghe 2 and
joined the Dutch in Malwana. And is believed to have been
settled in Galkissa of
Salpita Korale. Gankanda
arachchi became Alexander de Saram.
Phillipoe de Alwis
of Bentota married Macka around 1739 and settled in Salpita
Korale. And may
have settled in Galkissa,
close to
Christ Church Dehiwela/Galkissa. Phillipoe is the father of
Don Daniel de Alwis,
b around 1740.
Daniel
de Alwis's son Adrian de Alwis lived with his aunt ,Liender de
Saram's wife
Maria Johanna Perera,in Galkissa around
1779. (Liender de
Saram is a son of
Anthonan de Saram, and a grand son of Alexander de Saram.)
Phillip Seneviratne
of Duwa watte walauwwa Desastara Kalutara married in 1786, Ana
Helena daughter
of Daniel de Alwis. Wedding at Christ Church
Dehiwela/Galkissa.
Phillip
Seneviratne's grand son, Thomas married around 1885, Jane Rejo
de Alwis and
settled in Galkissa
Walauwwa.
Gankanda aracchi was
attached to Don Manual
Tennakoon,Disawa of Beminiwatte. Manual Tennakoon fled to
Colombo and joined
the Dutch on 12/2/1676 with 300 followers,when his brother was
killed by King
Rajasinghe 2 in 1676.
Probably he too came
to Colombo in 1676 from
Seethawaka, and joined the Dutch Governtment, which gave him
the Muhandiram
post
Gankanda arachchi joined the Dutch in 1676, and took the
name Alexander de Saram. He was
appointed Mudliyar Salpita Korale. He and his son Anthonan de
Saram was given
planting leases to plant coconut in Wellawatte (16,000 coconut trees
or 250 acres, according
to SF vol 3,page 90 and Galkissa.15,000 coconut trees or 234
acres,according to
Dutch internet document). But around year 1730, the Wellawatte
and Galkissa
lands were sold to Anthonan de Saram by the Dutch Governtment.
(Change of land
policy ,sold to Mudliyars who planted the land.)
Anthonan de
Saram'son was Gankanda
arachcige Simon de Saram. His son was Louis de Saram, b1770.
And his son was
Leonard de Saram b 1814. His wife was Susana Hetroyda de
Alwis. Leonard de
Saram inherited 75 acres at Wellawatte and 20 acres at
Galkissa.
From the last will of Susanna Hetroyda
de Alwis of Galkissa, widow of
Leonard de Saram.Will date 2/2/1885 (Leonard
de Saram did not have children, Daniel and Jane were
Leonard's sisters, grand
children.)
Para 1 to 14.
To Daniel Albert de Alwis Weerasinghe Siriwardene
Goonetileka
49 acres at
Wellawatte, Nugegewatte 25
Perches
Kongaha
Kumbura,Bakalaya field,Bogaha
Kumbura,Karandegaha Kumbura,Weweboda kumbura,Bakmeegaha
kumbura, Land from sea
to Galle Road about 15 acres,conveyed to the crown for
compensation in
1844,which is present day the Galkissa cemetery and behind a
low income housing
scheme.
Para 15 to 19
To Thomas
Leonard Gunasekara
Seneviratne,Husband of Jane Rejo de Alwis
25 acres at
Wellawatte
Land at
Delgahalande Udepila Siyane Korale
To Helena Eliza de Alwis (Mother od
Daniel Albert de Alwis and Jane Rejo de Alwis)
2 land strips
Kongahawatte,and
Nelligahawatte at Galkissa (adjoining
present
day Arpico)
Liyanaparangiya
watte 2A2R11P, land
opposite Galkissa cemetery, Galkissa Walauwwa in Mihindu
Mawatha in this
premises.
Daniel Albert seems to have got about 60 perches bodering Terrance Avenue,opposite former odeon cinema, which later went to her daughter Lilian de Alwis, who around 1930 sold it to her cousin Edwin Seneviratne.
Jane Rejo de
Alwis seems to have got about
2 acres at Kawdana where her 3 sons seem to have donated the
land to build a
temple around 1925. Pesently Anusubodharama temple of Kawdana
exists.
Murder by chloroform at Duff House
By
Jayantha Gunasekera
By
Jayantha Gunasekera
Part 1
View (s):
Maha
Mudaliyar Sir Solomon Dias Bandaranaike of Horogolla Walauwe
had two daughters
and a son. The son was SWRD, Prime Minister of Ceylon, from
1956 to 1959. He
married Sirimavo, one of the daughters of Barnes Ratwatte (later Sir Barnes).
She was a good 18 years
SWRDs junior in age. Though Sir Solomon was not a man of
education, he aspired
to high titular office. He aped the British so much that he
named his son
Solomon West Ridgeway after a British Governor.
SWRD was
educated at St Thomas College, Mt. Lavinia, a Christian
school, and at the
University of Oxford, where he was elected Treasure of the
Oxford Union. He was
admitted to the English Bar and, on his return, he practised
his profession for
a few years. Thereafter, he took to politics and was elected
as the
representative for Veyangoda. Unlike his father, he was
national minded, and
donned the ariyasinhala dress, and even became a Buddhist.
One of
Sir Solomons daughters was given in marriage to Leo DAlwis
of Mt. Lavinia.
The DAlwis were possessed of vast tracts of agricultural
property, and
property in the Western Province. Leos sister, Lillian Roslin de Alwis, was given in marriage
to a
Cambridge-educated, non-practising barrister Stephen Seneviratne. The bride was a lady of
large proportions,
heavily built. Stephen was the eldest son of Attapattu
Mudaliyar Solomon
Seneviratne, and his mother was
a sister of the Maha Mudaliyar. So we see that Stephen and
wife were both
closely related to Sir Solomon.
Stephens
country residence was Kandahena Estate, Veyangoda. Stephen and
his wife, soon
after they married, resided at White House, Ward Place,
Colombo. 7, which was
not such a residential area, as it is now. He had a short
stint at the Bar, but
left and joined the Valuation Dept. as a Govt. Assessor.
Within a few years he
left Govt. service and did freelance Valuation for the Public
Trustees Dept.
and the State Mortgage Bank. He did not thereafter show any
inclination to
engage in intellectual pursuits and to continue as a member of
the Bar. He was
more interested in managing his agricultural lands. He was
particularly
interested in animal husbandry and poultry rearing, hardly the
kind of activity
expected of a Cambridge-educated lawyer. Perhaps Stephen knew
his limitations.
He knew only too well that qualifying as a lawyer was one
thing, and practising
was quite another. His son Terence, perhaps, took to
agriculture, and became
the Director of Agriculture at Peradeniya, due to his fathers
influence.
After a
difficult confinement, Mrs. Seneviratne gave birth to their
only child,
Terrence and the doctor in attendance was Dr. S.C. Paul, one
of the earliest
Ceylonese to qualify as a surgeon. Some years after the birth
of the baby, Mrs.
Seneviratne developed an early diabetic condition. At the time
of her marriage,
both her parents were dead, being chronic diabetics. She was
given in marriage
by her brother Leo D Alwis, who was extremely fond of her.
Mrs. Seneviratne
developed a morbid frame of mind and made no bones about the
fact that she too
would not live long, like her parents.
A few
years later, Stephen decided to sell White House, which he had
inherited. Mrs.
Seneviratne had constant breezes with Stephen over this sale.
He sold a dowry
property at Wellawatte and with the proceeds he purchased the
farm at Nawala
and an estate at Alawwa.
Another matter that they were quarrelling about was a servant
girl called
Jessie. Mrs. Seneviratne had suspicions that Stephen was
having an illicit
affair with Jessie. This girl was sacked by Mrs. Seneviratne,
but re-employed
by Stephen to work in the Nawala property.
After the
sale of White House, they shifted to a rented house in
Arbuthnot Street, until
April 1933, when they shifted to Duff House at Bagatalle Road
in October of the
same year. While living at Arbuthnot St, she wrote to Stephen
the following
letter, which was produced at the trial. The letter read; By
creeping into a
miserable house for Rs100/- if anything goes wrong with my
child, I will
without hesitation kill myself then and there. I will not be a
burden and a
stumbling block to you much longer. Only a few years is all
that is left for
me. Every morning, noon and night I will pray to God to
shorten my days. With
every charitable act I shall pray for the same thing. I now
live as a prisoner
in the cell, waiting for the end of his term. I will not live
for more than 40
or 50 years, because my parents died early. I will await death
my comforter and
redeemer. Can you buy me a pistol before I go to the other
house. At least
alone I will have some sort of defence then.
Their son
Terrence was very attached to his father. His mother used to
beat him up
whenever she lost her temper. Over this too, there were
constant quarrels
between husband and wife. She also disapproved of Stephen
visiting his
sister-in-law, Mrs. Francis Seneviratne at Veyangoda.
Mrs.
Stephen Seneviratne, according to the evidence led at the
trial, was a highly
strung neurotic person. She flew into a rage for trivial
matters, and often
used to lock herself up and refuse to eat, for several days.
She thought that
White House was haunted and complained of ghosts. Noises of
polecats used to be
considered by her as strange noises. Stephen never took his
wife seriously and
treated her in a light hearted manner. They had been leading a
cat and dog life
for some years before her death.
At Duff
House Mrs. Seneviratne slept with her maid Alpina. In the next
room, Terrence
slept with his Nurse Mabel Joseph. According to Alpina, Mrs.
Seneviratne spent
a restless night on the day in question, and woke up twice,
once to close the
shutters due to the rains, and again, to drink some water. Was
she tossing in
bed contemplating the drastic action she was hoping to take in
the morning?
At 6
a.m., according to Alpina, the lady was awake. Alpina went to
the kitchen.
About 15 minutes later, their 15-year-old servant boy Seelas,
and driver Perera
told Alpina that the lady wanted her. As she entered her
mistresss room she
noticed an oily smell. Because the lady was lying across the
bed with her head
towards the wall and legs hanging over the outer edge of the
bed, her master
went to the ladys bed and fanned his wife with a book, and
sent the maid for
some brandy, and hot water in empty beer bottles which her
master applied to
the various parts of her mistresss body. He also attempted
artificial
respiration.
According
to Alpina and 21-year-old Mabel Joseph, the lady was alive on
Sunday October
15th at 6.15 a.m. There was a bottle of Aspirin tablets in her
room. Did the servants
hear a scream, a groan or a gurgling sound?
Then the
car was sent to fetch the aunt of Mrs. Stephen Mrs. Harry
Dias Bandaranaike
and the family doctor, Dr S.C. Paul.
If
Stephen was responsible for her death, rather than suicide,
it would have to be
a carefully prepared and a well timed act, on his part, to
come into his wifes
room ready with the bottle of smelling salts, filled with
chloroform, poured
the chloroform on to a handkerchief of his wife and smothered
her by placing
the saturated hankie over her mouth and nostrils, and then
gone into his sons
room and being seen by Alpina, coming out of the room.
There was
ample evidence that Mrs. Seneviratne was familiar with the use
of chloroform,
and that she was aware of the fact that chloroform was
available in the house.
Dr. Paul
arrived at Duff House along with Mrs. Harry Dias Bandaranaike
on the morning of
15th October. Though Dr. Paul thought it was a case of suicide
by taking an
overdose of Aspirin, he telephoned the Coroner, the Police and
Leo DAlwis. On
learning later that the Police and the Coroner did not suspect
foul play, and
did not propose to take any action, he gave a certificate that
death was due to
syncope or heart failure, following an over dose of Aspirin.
Leo DAlwis had
himself noticed the marks on the face but did not seriously
suspect foul play,
as his sister had threatened suicide, many times.
On
October 16th, the funeral took place. Leo DAlwis suspicions
grew as there
were frequent quarrels between his sister and Stephen and he
was not satisfied
about the marks on her face. On the advice of Dr. Paul, Leo
made a complaint on
November 7th. Inquest proceedings began before E.H.R.
Tennison, Police
Magistrate. Tennison ordered the exhumation and the
post-morten examination was
conducted by Dr. T.S. Nair, the JMO. Tennison was of the
opinion that Mrs.
Seneviratne was murdered. On December 3rd the Additional
Magistrate C.B.P.
Perera started Non-Summary Proceedings, continued day to day,
and the accused
Stephen Seneviratne was committed to stand his trial before
the Supreme Court.
NEXT
Supreme Court Trial of Stephen Seneviratne and Appeal to the
Privy Council
Part 2
(The writer
expresses his gratitude to
Firoz Sameer, for having provided him with some literature
regarding this case)
Murder by chloroform at
Duff House
By
Jayantha Gunasekera
Part 2
View (s):
The trial
of Stephen Seneviratne began on May 14, 1934, at the Colombo
Assizes before the
first Malay Judge of the Supreme Court, Justice M.T. Akbar,
and an English
speaking jury. This judge was considered a clever legal
personality.
Deputy
Solicitor General M.W.H. de Silva with Crown Counsel H.L.
Wendt and Police
Superintendent J.R.G. Bantock and Dr. M.V.P. Pieris appeared
for the
prosecution. Dr. Pieris assisted in the examination of the
medical witnesses.
Incidentally, DSG Silva subsequently became the Attorney
General and after his
retirement was appointed Minister of Justice.
Kings
Counsel R.L. Pereira, H.A.P. Sandrasagara KC and Stanley
Obeysekera KC, with
Eric Soysa and P.H.P. Jayatilleke appeared for Stephen
Seneviratne.
Pereira
and Sangrasagara were the top criminal lawyers at that time.
Amongst the
prosecution witnesses were Alpina the servant woman, Mabel
Joseph the nanny,
Seelas, Martin and Banda the servant boys, K.D. Simon the
cook, and driver
Simon Perera.
Thereafter, Mrs. Harry Dias Banadaranaike, Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Seneviratne,
Mr. and Mrs. Leo DAlwis, Edmund Dassanaike, Proctor Felix
Jayawardene, Dr.
Gunaratnam Cooke and Mrs. Ohlmus also gave evidence, for the
prosecution.
The job
of the prosecution was tricky and had to be handled delicately
because Mrs.
Stephen Seneviratne had on more than one occasion threatened
to commit suicide.
All the defence had to do was, not to prove that Stephen did
not commit the
murder, but only to create a reasonable doubt.
The trial
judge Justice Akbar was a deeply religious man, who could be
swayed by
religious sentiments, apart from the evidence. This was a case
where much
medical (technical)
evidence needed
evaluation, and Judge Akbar was quite competent to handle this
aspect. Akbar
Hall in the Peradeniya Campus is named after him.
Many
doctors gave evidence. Dr. S.C.Pauls son Prof. Milroy Paul
was firmly of the
view that the external injuries were consistent with the
application of
chloroform, whether self inflicted or applied by an external
force. He cut
across his fathers view that death was due to syncope or
heart failure,
following an overdose of Aspirin. Father and son figured
prominently in this
case, particularly due to their divergent opinions.
Dr. S.C.
Paul produced several brilliant children. Milroy Paul,
professor of surgery,
whose son, Crown Counsel Wakely Paul was a friend of mine. It
is said that he
got into the clutches of the LTTE Diaspora, while he was in
the US. Another
son, A.T.S. Paul was, I believe, a thoracic surgeon. Yet
another son was Paul
Jayarajan, the father of my schoolmate the late Ana, who lived
close to my
parental home in Flower Rd, Colombo 7. Paul Jayarajan entered
the prestigious
Indian Civil Service.
A
daughter of Dr. S.C. Paul, I think, married former Solicitor
General R.R.
Crossette-Thambiah, whose son Malli Crossette-Thambiaah, was a
top lawyer.
Another of Dr. Pauls daughters married Mr. Rasaretnam, who
became Surveyor
General. His daughter Sulochana married my friend Ajit
Saravanamuttu, the
youngest of P. Saras children. Rasaretnams son Rudy was an
eminent surgeon.
Malli Crossette and Rudy were gentlemen to their fingertips. I
believe that Dr.
S.C. Paul had many other children, whose names I am not aware
of.
Dr.
M.V.P. Pieris (who
also assisted the
prosecution) was an eminent surgeon who was ambidextrous.
After his retirement,
he served as High Commissioner in London. The other medical
men who gave
evidence were Dr. T.S. Nair, who performed the post-mortem
examination, and Dr.
J.S. de Silva (senior
anaesthetic at the
General Hospital) who categorically stated that the deceased
had committed
suicide. Dr. R.L. Spittel, one of the best known surgeons of
his day, was
positive that it was homicide. Dr. Spittel was well known to
the Veddha
community. He wrote several books including Where the wild
sambur Roams. Dr.
Karunaratne MD was a highly experienced pathologist, who had
performed nearly
3000 post-mortem examinations. He was present at the
post-mortem of Mrs.
Seneviratne, and his view was that it was a probable homicide.
Therefore this
murder trial was more like a Medical Seminar!
All
doctors including Dr. S.C. Paul, were now agreed that
chloroform was the cause
of death; but there were two groups, (a)
those who thought that death was due to Syncope, and (b) others who were of
the view that death was
due to asphyxia and syncope, or simply by smothering.
The
evidence was concluded on June 8, and on the same afternoon
the court took the
unusual step of visiting Duff House. Although this visit was
perfectly legal,
it had to be conducted under specific conditions. An
experiment before the
judge and the foreman of the jury was performed by Dr. Pieris,
in the absence
of the other jurors. Inspector Van Cuylenberg was to lie on a
bed and was
requested to make noises like groans. The Privy Council
decided that these
demonstrations were irregular and unnecessary for the
administration of
justice.
Then
began the address to the Jury of Deputey Solicitor General
Silva, followed by
the brilliant address of Pereira K C.
Stephen
Seneviratne was convicted by a 5 2 verdict of the Jury, and
sentenced to
death.
Pereira
was easily the most devastating cross examiner of his day, and
most witnesses,
particularly doctors, dreaded to face him. He had a bull dog
like exterior, and
many a doctor had fainted under his cross examination. He
lived in an enormous
house at the intersection of Green Path and Flower Road,
Colombo 7, which now
houses the Education Dept. He had two children, Carmen West,
and R.G.C.
Pereira, the son who outshone the father, in the fathers life
time. RGC was to
be conferred Silk, but for his untimely death in his 50s. Due
to differences of
opinion with his father, he chose to live in a suite in the
Galle Face Hotel.
There was
no Court of Criminal Appeal then, and Stephen Seneviratne
appealed to the Privy
Council in England. The Appeal came up before Lord Maugham,
Lord Roche and Sir
George Rankin. D. B. Sommerville KC (Attorney
General of England), with L. M. D. De Silva KC appeared for
the AG of Ceylon,
while Seneviratne was represented by H. I. P. Hallet KC and R.
L. Pereira KC.
On July
29, 1936, their Lordships of the Privy Council advised His
Majesty the King,
that the Appeal was allowed, and the death sentenced quashed.
Seneviratne left
prison after spending 30 months, and rejoined his son whom he
was immensely
fond of.
Many
strictures were passed by the Privy Council on Justice Akbars
Charge to the
Jury. It is rumoured that Akbar suffered a nervous breakdown,
and retired
prematurely.
Other Seneviratne Family details:
A) Ceylon Light Infantry Officers
List
Bertram
Lucian Seneviratne
1954
Douglas Basil Seneviratne
B)
1.Seneviratne (had
8 children)
2.Don Bastian Seneviratne (School
Master-Welapura Kalutara)
3.Rosila+ (married at Beruwala)
3.Pedroe + Dona Apolonia
3.Maria
2.Don Pedroe + Ana (they
had 4 children0
3.Don Louis Abeysiriwardena
Seneviratne Mohandiram + Dona Simona Silva (they had 4
children)
4.Carolis Seneviratne + Cornelia Dias Bandaranaike.
(This
Carolis Seneviratne seems to be the same Carolis mentioned
in page 1 of the
chart. Alive1753,if he is the same person, this family is
connected to Reynolds
family as said in Sinhalese families book.)
C) 1.Seneviratne Hidellikoralage
Abraham J de Alwis b20/7/1853
D) 1 Don Philip Jayasekera Seneviratne Sudusingha.
Mohandiram of Kalutara
(alive1709) + Dona
Anna
2 Regina Seneviratne + Hettimulle Canahara
Mudiyanselage Don Louis Perera Samarawira Gunerwardena
Basnaike Mohandiram.
3.Abraham Perera Kuruwe Mudaliyar bp
28/1/1744- d 23/11/1790
3 Maria Johanna bp 17/8/1742
3 Appolonia bp17/10/1747+Daniel de
Alwis
3
Richard bp 20/2/1748
3 Phillip bp 10/8/1733
3 Carolus bp 31/7/1745
3 Madalena bp 228/1758
3 Cecilia bp 10/9/1760
2.Carouis Sudusingha Mudaliyar Kalutara (M1)
3. Christian Sudusngha + Cecilia
Johanna Perera
4 Maria +Philipoe M28/8/1755
5 Floris bp 10/9/1760
5 Cornelia bp 21/8/1763
5 Regina bp 20/9/1766
5 Johanna bp 2/6/1770
5 Regina bp 7/2/1773
2 Carolus Sudasingha + (m2)26/10/1777
Dona Francina Perera
2.Richard + Leonara Philipsz
Panditharatne (d
of Philipsz
Panditharatne Maha Mudaliyar.)
3.Don Johannes.
On 1/8/1818 D.A.S Sudusingha was
appointed captain of the native militia.
E) 1
Joan Alwis Wijewardene Seneviratne Maha
Mudaliyar of the Gate.Gold medal 1762
2 Don Simon de Silva Jayatilleke
Seneviratne (Maha
Mudaliyar and 1st
Interpreter of the Gate.Title given on
17th April 1766.)
3 Louisa Seneviratne + Don Carolus
de Livera Wijewickreme Tennekoon.Mudaliyar Received medal in
1804 (Son of Louis
Wijewickreme Seneviratne Tennakoon Atttapatu Mudaliyar)
4 David de Livera Wijewardene
Tennakoon.
4 Louis de Livera Samaranaike
Tennakoon Mudaliyar bp 8/5/1796
4 Petronella de Livera bp
8/5/1796
4 Maria de Livera bp 21/8/1791
3 David Seneviratne + Siriwardena (M27/11/1791)
F) 1
Don Simon Seneviratne Maha Mudaliyar (Son of Manikkoe de
Silva ,Thombo holder of
Galle ,Will dated 17/12/1765.Simon had brothers Joan,Abraham
and Adrian
Goonathileke Samaranaike')
Simon married Dona Maria Perera
Ekanaike of Panadura d28/3/1822.
2 Maria Seneviratne bp 16/12/1770
2 Christina Elizebetha Seneviratne bp
22/10/1775
2
Jacoba Seneviratne bp 26/9/1773
(see
pieris Deraniyagala family tree)
2 Don
Davith Siriwardena Seneviratne Attapattu Mudaliyar and
Mudaliyar of Kalutara
,Raiygam Korale.
bp 19/11/1769,married 1.Maria
,daughter of Isaac de Saram MM,married 2.in 1803,Isabella
daughter of
Paules Perera Ekanayake,Mudaliyar
Siyane Korale.
2 Don Simon Barendt Jayatilleke
Seneviratne,Mohandiram of the Gate bp 3/3/1772,died
25/8/1837.Married
1/3/1804 dona Catharina de Saram,
daughter of Louis de Saram MM
G) A.C Seneviratne
H) Seneviratne + Johanna Dias
Bandaranayake (d
of Don Solomon DB)
I) Haramanis Abeyesekere
Seneviratne (Vidhana
Mohandiram
Gangebodapattu)
J) Simon de Rodrigo Wijesekere
Seneviratne
K) Carolis Jayasinghe Seneviratne
Sudusinghe
References:
Sinhalese
families by PE Pieris.
Internet.
Chieftains
of
Ceylon.
References:
Sinhalese
families by PE Pieris.
Internet.
Chieftains
of
Ceylon.
Dutch certificate
received by Don Phillip Gunasekera
Seneviratne in 1794.
Certificate given by
Governor Van de Graaf
References:
Sinhalese families by PE Pieris.
Internet.
Chieftains of Ceylon.
References: Sinhalese Families by Paul E Pieris
Prepared by.
Manjula de Livera
manjuladelivera@yahoo.com.au
15th Nov 2015
Gertrude de Livera
nee Seneviratne
Biography
Novelist Gertrude de Livera
(nee Seneviratne)b1931,a student
of Girls High School Mt Lavinia,
and St Pauls Milagiriya
,obtained the Senior School Certificate with a first division
pass with Distinctions in English and English Literature. .She
went on to graduate in Bachelor of Arts from the University of
Ceylon (Peradeniya)in 1955.
Subsequently she obtained her Master of
Arts qualifying from the Kelaniya
University (Sri Lanka) and Post Graduate Diploma in Education
from the University of Colombo.She
also holds a Diploma ,from the
London school of Journalism.
She joined the English Department of the Kelaniya University in 1970, and at
the time of retirement in 1990 she held the post of Senior
English Instructor in the University.
She has written several short stories, and
has published a short story book named Some Middle Class Sri
Lankans
She has thought English Literature and
English Language to many students.
Gertrude de Livera,
married Louis Charles de Livera
(Carl) a prominent Lawyer in 1955,and
had the children Sunil, Manjula
and Lankika.
She currently lives in her retirement in Dehiwela ,Sri Lanka.
Gertrude de Livera nee Seneviratne
and family.
Standing
Lankika de Livera,Gertrude de Livera nee Seneviratne,Dr
Premalatha Seneviratne
Seated
Rahul de Livera,Manjula de Livera,Lakshmi de Livera,Shruti de Livera,Kusan
Panditharatne
Photos
Soloman Seneviratne
Charlie Senewiratne Phillip
Senewiratne
Francis Senewiratne
Edwin
Senewiratne Jimmy
Senewiratne
Eddie Senewiratne Brian
Senewiratne Nimal
Senewiratne Lionel Seneviratne Gertrude Seneviratne
Alexander de Alwis Terrance
Senewiratne Nanda Senewiratne Ranjith Senewiratne Tissa
Senewiratne
Seneviratne
Lankika
de Livera Manjula de Livera with Dr Tissa
Senewiratne at Galkissa Walauwa
Migration
Pattern
Other possible Seneviratne
relatives
1 Seneviratne Edward
Acland b1856 Ceylon Civil Service
2 Seneviratne John Graham
b1855 CCS
3 Seneviratne James
Caulfield b1850 CCS
4 Seneviratne Don Hendrick
b1851 CCS (2 children)
5 Seneviratne John Henry
b1849 CCS (1 child)
6 Seneviratne Fredrick
William b1861 CCS (married)
He
made time for everyone
DR
TISSA SENEWIRATNE 23/3/1940-25/5/2023
Thaththi
He was
never a person to talk about the great things he had done or
the number of people he touched and helped, with no reward or
recognition; he was a man who would never shy away from hard
work or getting his hands dirty if needed. This meant
that people could not fudge around him, they would be
compelled to work/help. He paid no heed to status,
which is something I personally live by, his attitude of
respecting others and believing in people has helped me
throughout my life.
Time, he
had for anyone, be it work, his family or even a
stranger; the way he made time for his garden, music and for
hobbies was so amazing. Growing up, I remember him going out
in the middle of the night to attend to a patient or some
other urgent matter, which he need not have done, as
he was in preventive medicine and public
health; but that was the way he was wired!
His
approach to life and the impact he made on my life and the
lives of so many others, cannot be summarised in a simple
appreciation. Again, the many people who knew him and us, and
people who helped him after he retired, have in unison said
the same thing and that made me understand that he lived a
simple life, did what he had to do, with no expectations,
enjoyed his life and made sure his family did the same.
We are so
grateful that he played such an important part in our lives.
Uncle
Tissa
Everyone
remembers Uncle Tissa as a kind person who never hesitated to
dispense medical advice to anyone who needed it, from his own
family to his mechanic and our regular tuk drivers.
He loved
his music and his garden both of which brought him immense
pleasure and relaxation. When he was working, he would garden
till late at night. Music brought him immense pleasure and
there were a couple of occasions when we would wake up in the
middle of the night and hear Christmas tunes, in June! We
played some baila tunes for him in the hospital to help ease
his discomfort and I like to think that it brought him at
least a few moments of joy.
Uncle was
also an excellent carpenter and made most of the shelves and
cupboards at home. When I ran out of space for my shoes,
Chaminda asked him to make a shoe rack for me and it is still
as good as new 20 plus years down the line! He could repair
almost anything and had numerous bags of odds and ends which
he felt might come in useful to that end a trait he has
passed on to both his children! Uncle was a proud Thomian and
was part of the centenary group, supporting College in any way
he could. A man of few words, he portrayed true Thomian grit
in the way he lived his life, and fought his illness.
Seeya
Seeya has
played many roles for many people; to my sister and me, he was
a best friend. There are too many good memories and so few
words to truly capture everything he has done and all he means
to us, but in a nutshell, he was an extraordinary human being.
He never failed to show us his excitement and joy for whatever
we decided to pursue, be it education, sport, or even a hobby.
Teatime with him, also included getting our pressure checked
not that he insisted, but we did, every time and hed gladly
check and give us a report too.
At
birthday parties, he and Aachchi would always be the first
guests Aachchi would be there with her homemade cake, and
Seeya with his video recorder, ready to capture each years
birthday celebrations from start to finish.
Our
childhood with him was nothing short of fun, from cleaning
fish tanks, to mowing the lawn he somehow made ordinary
things seem something to look forward to.
It goes
without saying that his passing has saddened our hearts; yet
for the life he has shared with us, well always celebrate
this unparalleled friendship, the lessons he has taught us,
and/o course, the kindness he showed us till his last breath.
Chaminda
and Mishthi Senewiratne, and Amashi de Mel.
Prepared by - Mr Manjula de
Livera
email- manjuladelivera@yahoo.com.au
Date-16 Oct 2024